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Recess (TV series)

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Recess
The Recess crew.
From left to right: Vince, Spinelli, Mikey, T.J., Gretchen, and Gus.
Created byPaul Germain
Joe Ansolabehere
StarringRoss Malinger
Andrew Lawrence
Rickey D'Shon Collins
Pamela Adlon
Ashley Johnson
Jason Davis
Courtland Mead
Allyce Beasley
April Winchell
Dabney Coleman
Ryan O'Donohue
Toran Caudell
Erik von Detten
Blake McIver Ewing
Country of originUSA
No. of episodes65
Production
Running time30 minutes with commercials (mostly two 15-minute segments)
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 13, 1997 –
November 4, 2001

Recess was an American animated television series, created by Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere (both part of the Rugrats creative team), and produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. It centered around six elementary school best friends, who have various adventures during recess at their school.

The show premiered on ABC's 'One Saturday Morning' programming block on September 13 1997; its final first-run episode aired on November 4 2001. Along with Pepper Ann and Doug, Recess was one of One Saturday Morning's founding members. 'Recess' was a popular and successful show, and spun-off three direct-to-video films (one in 2001, two more in 2003) and an animated feature, 'Recess: School's Out', in 2001. Reruns of the original show continue to air on Toon Disney in the U.S., as well as The Family Channel in Canada and in Australia. The show is very popular in the UK and Ireland.

With its barbed-wire enclosed schoolyard and military theme music, Recess is arguably a spoof of Hogan's Heroes. The "Old Folks Home" episode even featured T.J. visiting an aging "Rogan". The prissy "Ashleys", in turn, are arguably a play on the late-80s teen movie Heathers.

While some episodes involved realistic scenarios (such as the government canceling recess to get better test scores), some involved far-out situations (in one episode, Principal Prickly installed a Sal 3000 computer system, a spoof of 2001: A Space Odyssey and another episode where foul-language resulted in a Sharply dressed Government Clean-up man resembling Harvey Keitel's Winston Wolfe from Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction visiting the school to eradicate the recent 'potty mouthing').

The show will air as part of a new UK children's channel; CITV, which launched in March 2006.

Setting

The children attend Third Street Elementary School (Named after resident entrepreneur Thaddeus T. Third III), a school which is generally poorly funded and ill-managed. Its location is never given; instead it is supposed to represent a sort of "anywhere, USA" with the characters and settings being an amalgamation of traditional stereotypes and clichés associated with American youth and childhood.

Most of the show's action takes place outside during the recess period, though other settings such as the classroom or the cafeteria are occasionally used.

Location

Different episodes give conflicting hints about where the school is, a literary technique similar to how the location of Springfield is handled on The Simpsons. For example, in the episode 'Spinelli's Masterpiece', the pale kids zoom down on an area of the U.S around Arkansas/South Dakota, and in another episode Ms. Finster mentions the Arkansas standard achievement test. Alternatively, other episodes mention Alabama, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. The movie 'Recess: School's Out' suggests the school is located somewhere in California.

The town where Recess is set apparently has a large German-American community. There is a "Little Bavaria" neighborhood, characters sometimes speak German (Jawohl mein Kommandent) and many of the characters have German names, i.e. Gus Griswald, T.J. Dettweiler, Gretchen Grundler, M.P. Finster, Mikey Blumberg. This could be another clue to the location of the school, or another reference to Hogan's Heroes.

Time

The show depicts the 1997-1998 school year; 'The Lost Ball' episodes shows the pupils' high school graduation with the banner reading 'Class of 2006' (confirming the eight year gap between fourth grade and twelfth grade). In addition, Gus says in 'First Name Ashley' "Hey, this is the 90s" and, in the episode 'The Girl Was Trouble', Mikey claims that "...a new millenium approaches...". The show also began airing in 1997.

On the other hand, the cartoon's artistic style evokes an earlier era through the character's fashions and appearances. The characters never seem to wear trendy clothes, though that may be explained as part of the series' use of exaggerated clichés and stereotypes.

Recess Timing

The actual time and duration of the "Recess" period(s) is never clearly set out. The big clock often points to different times when kids are let out for recess. TJ at one point remarks "We only get 40 precious minutes of Recess a day." 10:00 is a time used in multiple instances, although there are also mentions of afternoon recess. Another discrepency is the time at which school ends, with the clock at dismissal often showing different times between 2 and 4 pm.

The Playground

The playground has an organized system of government, a pastiche of the social hierarchy at elementary school. The students are ruled by a sixth-grader king, who is appointed by the previous monarch on the last day of school. The laws and the "Kids' Unwritten Code of Honor" are generally what kids think of in this age group (some laws are concerned about jinxing and tattle-tales). See also Children's street culture and Childhood secret club.

Characters

Kids

Main characters

  • Theodore Jasper "T.J." Detweiler, Jr. - The ringleader of his five best friends. He normally wears a red baseball cap backwards. T.J. usually spends time planning pranks against the teachers. He was voiced by Ross Malinger from 1997-1998, and Andrew Lawrence afterward.
  • Vincent Pierre "Vince" LaSalle - A very talented athlete, Vince has been referred to as "cool" several times. He is one of the few African American students. He was voiced by Rickey D'Shon Collins.
  • Ashley Funnicelo Spinelli - A feisty tomboy who enjoys pro wrestling. Almost always called by her surname, and was outraged when the other kids found out her first name. Her father looks Italian, while her mother looks white, which means Spinelli seems to be multiracial. Her middle name is stated in the episode "More Like Gretchen". Spinelli is an Italian name. Spinelli and T.J. may have crushes on each other. She was voiced by Pamela Adlon.
  • Gretchen P. Grundler - Academically talented and very intelligent. Known as "Smart Girl" to the older kids, such as King Bob. She was voiced by Ashley Johnson.
  • Michael "Mikey" Blumberg - Large, likes to eat, and very philosophical: writes poetry, performs classical dance, and believes in notions of peace often dismissed by the others. He also loves to sing. He was voiced by Jason Davis; his singing voice was provided by Robert Goulet.
  • Gustav Patton "Gus" Griswald - The newest kid in the grade (although it was revealed in a Recess TV special, "All Growed Down", that he spent a while in Third Street Elementary as a kindergartener before being hauled out the next day). He is also very short. He was voiced by Courtland Mead.

Secondary Characters

  • Randall J. Weems - The snitch of the playground and Ms. Finster's informant, Randall frequently proves the chief antagonist to the Recess gang. He could be modeled on Richard Nixon. Randall was voiced by Ryan O'Donohue.
  • King Bob (Robert) - The "king" of the playground. He once appointed himself pharaoh when he realized that no one remembered the three kings before him (no one would since the other kids were too young). Generally he is a good but arrogant leader. He was voiced by Toran Caudell.
  • Erwin Lawson - Vince's sports rival, he usually goes by his last name. Lawson is also one of the school bullies. He has a very limited imagination, being unable to come up with all but the lamest nicknames and insults (for example, he called a fort on the playground, "Fort Fort", he named his soccer team "The Winning Guys" and made fun of Gus's dodgeball alias, "El Diablo", by calling him "El Di-Loser"). He was voiced by Erik von Detten.
  • Menlo - A kid who spends recess indoors, helping Miss Lemon, Principal Prickly's secretary. In one episode it was revealed that he was once T.J.'s best friend, and in another we are told that he used to be an uncontrollable kid until he was selected as Principal For A Day. He was voiced by Blake McIver Ewing.
  • The Ashleys (Ashley Armbruster, Ashley Boulet, Ashley Quinlan, and Ashley Tomassian) - Four girls who are best friends and all share the same first name. They view themselves as perfect and spend their time putting on make-up, having tea parties, and playing with dolls. The Ashleys are often the targets of pranks that are pulled off by T.J. and his friends. The Ashleys each have a younger brother and a younger sister (the Tylers and the Britneys). They also are commonly referred to by their last initial (for example, Ashley A.). Ashley T. rarely speaks, but when she does speak, she is voiced by Gretchen's voice actor Ashley Johnson. The Ashleys have their own fort made out of rubber tires, which is elaborately decorated on the inside. They have a book of rules intended for all Ashleys to follow. In the episode where Spinelli's first name was discovered, The Ashleys attempted to assimilate Spinelli into their club, but failed.
  • Theresa "Cornchip Girl" LaMaise - A girl who is usually seen eating corn (maize) chips. Like Gus, she also has a military family; her father is in the United States Navy. Gus' father and her own father are rivals. Gus sometimes calls her 'Corny' and is loyal to the gang. She is voiced by Aria Curzon.
  • The Diggers (Digger Dave and Digger Sam) - They are Twins and inevitably best friends who spend all of their time digging holes. from time to time, they also help T.J. and the gang with most of their pranks and plots. They are sometimes known to try to dig to China or dig for treasure. They are voiced by Klee Bragger
  • Hector - He is a kindergartner who has ginger hair. He looks upto Gus, and often calls him Safety Man. He is seen in many episodes, such as "Dodgeball City".
  • Tubby - He is a Kindergartner who is husky and has giner hair. He looks upto Mikey, and often calls him Big Boy/Man. He is seen in many episodes such as the Kindergarten Derby, which he wins with the aid of Mikey as his coach.
  • Phil The Scout - He is one of TJ's Gang Classmates, who generally has neutrality in the class, however he does fear Spinalli. He can be rude sometimes. In one episode, "Beyond a reasonable scout" he denies Gus and Mikey from joining his troop because he thought he would just become another guy. However in the end he allows Gus and Mikey to join, when the head of the organization speaks to him.
  • Guru Kid, a.k.a. Jimmy - Guru Kid provides spiritual advice for students. He wears his shirt as a turban.
  • Hustler Kid, a.k.a. Francis - A black market trader who provides various items for the kids, such as comics, maps to teachers' houses, candy and rare airplane models. He is part of a massive Hustler Kid Organization which has its own code of honor. His supplier and former student is known as Fingers Mallyod. He Also participates as the School's Book-keeper, taking bets on the Kindergaten Derby and The Senior Fusion Test. His name was revealed on the episode "the "Gus'ler kid."
  • Upside-down Girl - Spends her recess hanging upside down from monkey bars. She also has a very short temper when bothered.
  • Butch - Butch is a conspiracy theorist, with a white streak in his hair. He got this upon seeing that older boys and girls enjoy kissing one another. If the kids were ever curious of urban legends or stories of the history of the 3rd Street playground, Butch usually knew it, however most of the urban myths he talks about usually come out to be untrue except for Rainy Days where he has 2nd hand account from his brother. Butch is played by Kath Soucie.
  • Swinger Girl - Swinger Girl, also known as Swinger Kid, spends all of her recess on the swings, trying to achieve her greatest ambition of swinging over the top. Wears a leather aviator jacket and headpiece, probably an homage to Amelia Earhart. She also helps T.J. and the gang with their plans but has helped Lawson occasionally.
  • Gelman- The school bully. When his favourite victim changes schools, he chooses Gus as a replacement. Gus stands up to him and all the other children back him up. Gelman and Gus later become friends in the 5th Grade. He is voiced by Justin Shenkarow from 1997 - 2001 and is also the Wrestler Kid/Army Kid in the Movie School's Out.
  • Conrad Munday - An Angry kid, causes trouble and usually hangs around with lazy kid. He is mischievous and wants to maintain a bad image. In "Munday,Munday" he is given a good reputation for saving a kindergartener he later accepts being a good guy but still he does commit hateful acts such as pushing over Phil the scout.
  • Lazy Kid - An incredibly lazy kid, thus his name as lazy kid, he hangs around with the bad group of friends, speaks very slowly and has a delayed response when being talked to.
  • Skeens - An angry kid, more like Munday he also likes causing trouble. He likes to paint bad about teachers on walls of the school. He usually hangs out with Munday, Lazy Kid, Kurst and Suborb Murphy. He has a bad image in school.
  • Jordan and Jerome - These are the 2 of King Bob's Chief Advisors. They seem to be his Prime Ministers. They are both in the 6th Grade. They often enforce rules and aid and abet the king whenever it is needed.

Tertiarry Kid Characters (Kids that are shown rarely or appears primarly in 1 episode)

  • Crier Kid, a.k.a. Bradley - Rarely mentioned, Crier Kid works as a "professional crier", that is he cries in order to distract elder staff to benefit the other kids. He agrees to work for the Recess gang and Randall for a dollar and two candy bars in the episode "Randall's Reform".
  • Library Kid - She was discovered by the group when they went to the library to find a book for a book report. Addressed simply as "Library Kid", she was very shy, small, and very knowledgeable about locations in the library. She spends her recess in the library. In one episode, the kids released her from the library in order to show her that the true enjoyment of recess is in the playground. She then turns out to be hyperactive and eventually manages to gain control over herself after being rescued by firefighters.
  • Kirsten Kurst- Also known as "Kurst the Worst", she is a glutton and is a generally unpleasant character; however, when Mikey is kind towards her, she become a rather more pleasant and civilized character in the episode "Kurst-the-not-so-bad".
  • Little Jimmy Kratmer - a kid seen only once but to whom Butch often refers. He has supposedly had all sorts of horrible things happen to him, such as being abducted by aliens. Butch often evokes his name to warn the others. His one appearance comes at the end of "The Experiment" where he is deposited back on the playground just as recess ends by the aliens Butch spoke of. He is shown only very briefly on the empty playground before running into the school, and the only clue that it is in fact Jimmy on the alien spaceship.
  • The Pale Kids - a group of kids who do not go outside to play during recess, instead, they stay in and play various card and board games, or read comic books.
  • Fillmore - a bully who is very mean to "Cornchip Girl".
  • A/V Kid - a student who acts as an assistant to the staff by repairing the somewhat dilapidated projectors when they break down. Though Vince as well as T.J., possibly motivated by the perk of an unrestricted hall pass, compete for the coveted spot of his replacement, neither of them get the position because they help each other in the final trial. A/V Kid considers this to be a sign that they are not sufficiently self-reliant to handle the responsibilities of the job.
  • Stinky Peterson - a boy much like Little Jimmy Kratmer, he is used as a fallback for terrible playground rumors. These include things like failing the 4th grade standardized test and being sent back to kindergarten and receiving a "Doom Message" from a paper fortune teller. These disasters usually befall the main characters, but they are often revealed to be untrue in the end. However, he is actually seen in an episode in the background while cheering at the kindgarten derby.
  • Trumpet Boy - He is the head trumpet boy of African American Origin. He is also one of King Bob's Closest Guards. His real name isnt mentioned.
  • Sounds Effects Kid - He is the boy who can make real life like sounds using nothing more than his voice. He is only seen once, by starting the Kindergaten Derby with a Gunshot sound Effect.
  • Adam Able - He is first in the School Register, he is also of African American origin, only a few in the Recess. He complains that he is always picked first. He is seen in "Taddltale Heart", complaining that his name wasn't Zeddediah Zwick. He also plays cameo roles around the playground and sometimes indoors.
  • Morris P Hingley - This boy was shown in one of the first episodes known as "The New Kid". This boy was known as the new kid prior to Gus's arrival at the school, and his title of new kid was given to Gus, his name is then revealed. However Gus protested for being given poor rights as the new kid and was only that for a few days, where as Morris was the new kid for 3 years presuambly since 1st or 2nd grade.
  • The Tylers - They are 1st/2nd graders, they only appear once in the whole of the recess series, not even a cameo or students in the background in other episodes. They are the Ashley's Younger Brothers, they too have a catchphrase 'suspicious' they are keen on investment and snitching.
  • The Britneys - They are younger than the Tylers and are the sisters of both the Ashleys and Tylers. Only Britney A is revelead as a Kindgertaner, she too is savage like them, and appears rarely with the other kintergartners either in their compound or when running.
  • Scribe Kid - He is King Bob's personal secretary, he writes up rules and memiors on behalf of the King.
  • Suborb Murphy - Nothing much is known about her but like her freinds Munday, Lazy Kid, Kurst and Skeens, she has a bad image in school and is often caught breaking rules. She is voiced by [[[Kath Soucie]]].

Teachers & Staff

  • Principal Peter Prickly - The principal of Third Street School, who is also known by adults in several episodes as "Petey". He hopes to one day be promoted out of Third Street and into a middle school, although when the opportunity did arise, he decided to stay, reciprocating the loyalty Miss Finster and the children have shown to him and the school. He is voiced by Dabney Coleman.
  • Miss Muriel P. Finster - The elderly, heavyset, draconian teacher in charge of keeping order on the playground. Although she seems uptight and militaristic, we learn in a Recess special that she used to be a kind, grandmotherly old teacher until one student caused a lot of trouble, triggering her so-called "dark side". In the movie and an episode where the kids were digging through some old yearbooks, it is revealed that she was once a beautiful, thin, young hippie, although her voice sounded exactly the same (rough and throat). She is voiced by April Winchell
  • Miss Alordayne Grotke - The 4th Grade Teacher at Third Street, she is African-American, and somewhat New Age, but is popular among her pupils. She orders many of her products from the Whole Earth Catologue such as her Solar Powered watch. She is thought as a wimp to Miss Finster but in Recess: School's Out it is shown she can fight very well in the art of Kung Fu and earns Miss Finster's respect. She also works as a magician in the "Little Bavaria" neighbourhood but she was soon found out by T.J and the gang. Voiced by Allyce Beasley.
  • Hank the Janitor - Hank briefly had a romantic relationship with Ms. Finster, and in another episode it was revealed that he is a mathematical genius (presumably an homage to Good Will Hunting).
  • Miss Lemon - Principal Prickly's secretary. Is elderly, and rarely smiles. She works alongside Menlo to ensure notes and letters are organised.
  • Mr Yamashiro - A teacher who is frequently in the Teacher's Lounge (evidenced when Vince was in second grade and tries to deliver a report to the said room and two years later when the kids try to sneak into the same room) and drives a lime green convertible.
  • Frank Skinner or Superintendent Skinner, is the school inspector of the district. Sometimes, he appears at the school and inspects the place. He may be inspired by the behavioralist B.F. Skinner.
  • Coach Cloogey - The gym teacher at Third Street School. He has the utmost faith and confidence in Vince LaSalle. It is evident that he cares for Vince's health because he cried when Vince lost to Gus Griswold in an assault course and thought he became a vegetarian. He is voiced by Paul Willson.
  • Miss Furley - Mentioned rarely in Recess, but seen with glasses. She is the Ashleys' 4th grade teacher from the Thanksgiving can drive episode. She is often given a cameo role sometimes with other teachers or sometimes sitting or standing by herself. She appears to be a friend of Miss Grotke.
  • Lunchlady Harriet - She is a typical lunchlady slightly plump and wears a hairnet and a sharpe voice, does not generally like the students (however not on the same level as finster) but has a soft spot for flowers she is voiced by Andrea Martin.

Older Characters (Adult Characters, Older Students and Everybody Else)

  • Mr E is the mysterious substitute which is in the episode "The Substitute". He takes control of Miss Grotke's Class while she is away recovering from a bunion operation. He states His Full name including what "E" stands for is classified, it is indicated when Phil the Scout asks what the Letter E stands for, Mr E Responds by saying; "That Information is classified, their is a terriable price to pay for that information, are you willing to pay it?". He appears to wear a suit and black sunglasses. He is initially hated by everyone in the class especially TJ, but everybody comes to like him by the end. TJ is against Mr E throughout his time at 3rd Street School for denying them of Recess and making them follow strict rules. However TJ comes to respect Mr E as well as Mr E does to TJ at the end of the episode. He appears to be a homage to Clint Eastwood for being rugged and strict, a kind of a bad but good guy.
  • Thaddeus T. Third V - He is the town's most known entrepeuner and owns many assts in the town and surrounding areas including Rootbeer Rapids. He is also the Town and School's (after his grandfather is named after) benafactor such as donating City Hall. His Grandfather built the school and the street which he is named after. In the episode known as..... His granfather's statue is destroy accidently by the gang. He then goes to save the gang from the Board of Education and the Mayor. He also appears in the episode known as the "The C-Note" where he leaves a $100 bill to see whether people are honest enough to return it to him, TJ being the only one, in return he offers the gang a ride on his jetpack and all the gang and family trip to his park rootbeer rapids. He is voiced by Ed Asner.
  • Dr Slicer He seems to be another reference to Hogan's Hereos as the Commandant Colonel Clink. He has sharpe voice and is probably from Germanic origin judging from voice and appearence some citing as dictator like. His Assistant Helga, is also somewhat a reference to Hogan's heros as the Seargant that carries out the orders. Dr Slicer has a PHD in Dicipline and a minor in Punishment. He is featured in "Prickley is Leaving" and has come to Third Street School to replace Prickley as Principle. He gives TJ the nickname, Funny Boy and makes him a dunce type hat to wear instead of his Cap, he then removes this and replaces it with a dunce type hat stating 'Captain Sappy'. He is feared by the whole playground, and wants to turn the jungle gym into a guard tower, implement school uniforms and regulation haircuts.

Episodes

Season 1 - 1997-98 (ABC)

  1. The Break In / The New Kid (The gang tries to break TJ out after he gets his recess taken away/Gus's First Day at the School sees himself being labelled the New Kid)
  2. Parents' Night / Swing on Thru to the Other Side (Spinelli is too ashamed of bringing her parents to Parent's Night/Swinger Girl is believed to have made a full loop on the swings and is never seen again).
  3. First Name Ashley / To Finster with Love (Spanneli's First Name is revealed/ Hank and Finster have a love affair)
  4. King Gus / Big Brother Chad (King Bob leaves Gus in charge of the playground/ Vince's Bigger Brother is playground legend, but what is he now?)
  5. My Fair Gretchen / Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye (Gretchen has an admirer/ The Class Pet dies)
  6. I Will Kick No More Forever / The Kid Came Back (Vince loses his Athletic Touch when an Ashley beats him in Kickball/ A Mysterious Kid begins to follow the gang, and bad things follow on.
  7. The Pest / The Legend of Big Kid (/Troubles comes to TJ after he is kidnapped by the tribal Kindergarteners)
  8. The Box / The Trial (TJ is thrown into Finster's new method of Punishment/Spinelli is accused of throwing a rock in a dirt clod fight)
  9. Teachers Lounge / Randall's Reform (The Gang try to find out what is really in the lounge/ King Bob is Blackmailed by Randell whom imposes his own reforms)
  10. Rainy Days / The Great Can Drive (The whole school is forced to stay inside for the duration of recess/Miss Grotke's class collects cans of food for the Thanksgiving Can Drive).
  11. Jinxed / The Great Jungle Gym Standoff (Gus is Jinxed (silenced) by the Ashleys/ The Gang and the Kids of the Playground defend Old Rusty from demolition).
  12. The Experiment / Officer Mikey (/Mikey has an ambition to be a safety officer)
  13. The Voice / Kids in the Mist (/)

Season 2 - 1998-99 (ABC)

  1. The Game / The Lost Ball (/A Kickball falls into a mysterious back garden of a mansion and its up to the Gang to retrieve it)
  2. Gus' Last Stand / Operation Field Trip (Gus Stands up to Gelman the Bully/The School is going on a field trip, but TJ's Class Bus breaks down, leaving them stranded)
  3. The Challenge / Wild Child (The two Mr. Prickly men (as it is revealed in this episode that Principal Prickly of 3rd Street has an older brother, also a principal of an elementary school) square off on a bet based on a game of 4th grade kickball/Gretchen becomes...uh...a rebel?)
  4. The Substitute / Gretchen and the Secret of Yo (A Mysterious Substitute by the name of Mr E takes over Miss Grotke's class while she is away/ Gretchen discovers a New Talent in Yo-Yos)
  5. The Girl was Trouble / Copycat Kid (Gretchen loses shame after trying to win back Galileo/)
  6. Operation Stuart / Pharaoh Bob (Stuart, a Stray cat wreeks havoc at 3rd Street School/ King Bob orders the Kids of the Playground to make a monument in his name)
  7. Mama's Girl / The Hypnotist (Spanelli calls Miss Grotke Mama in front of the whole playground/ Principle Prickley is Hypnotised)
  8. Economics of Recess / Omega Kids (TJ discovers while he was away the School had undergone a currency implementation/ All the kids at 3rd Street School have fallen ill after eating the Tuna Fish Surprise leaving only TJ and the gang the only students in school)
  9. Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave (Mikey still believes in Santa Clause)
  10. The Story of Whomps / Weekend at Muriel's (This follows the origins of the word "whomps" and the trouble it causes/ Spinelli is forced to spend a weekend with Finster)
  11. Bad Hair Day / Dance Lessons (Mikey is given a bad hair cut and soon a hair cut craze follows/ Spinelli is forced to take dance lessons)
  12. Principal for a Day / The Beauty Contest (TJ is made Principal for a day but all is not well/ Spinelli is entered into a beauty contest by the Ashleys)
  13. The Break Up / Outcast Ashley (All 6 members of the recess gang are no longer friends/one of the Ashleys are thrown out for breaking a rule)

Season 3 - 1999-2000 (ABC)

  1. One Stayed Clean / A Genius Among Us It was Picture day, the objective was to stay clean until the photo, only 1 did, but who?/ A Person solved Gretchens complicated mathematical problem after school....but who?
  2. Dodgeball City / A Career to Remember TJ and the gang discover something shocking from Gus's Past/ The Gang ponder on what they want to be when they grow up.
  3. Kindergarten Derby / The Bet The Kindergartens race for the one wish they receive from King Bob...who wins?/
  4. Space Cadet / Stand Up Randall Gretchen Gets a Letter from NASA that she would be "part of the next space shuttle/Randall discovers a joke book and soon begins displaying his jokes to the playground".
  5. That Stinking Feeling / Lord of the Nerds Johnny "Baby Tooth" V. leaves an imprint on Spinelli's heart./TJ gets dislocated shoulder playing kickball, and has to spend recess with the pale kids
  6. The Shiner / My Funny Valentines TJ gets a black eye....but how?/
  7. The Barnaby Boys / Buried Treasure TJ and Vince try to uncover the mystery of the temporaray janitor/The Gang find a treasure map, and go on a quest to find the treasure.
  8. The Library Kid / The Ratings Game An urban myth is said to be true.....is there a kid who stays in Library and does not come out to recess???/ The Ashleys instigate a ratings system.....but soon it wreeks havoc on the social structure of the playground.

Season 4 - 1999-2000 (UPN)

  1. The First Picture Show / The Big Prank
  2. Hustler's Apprentice / The Spy Who Came In from the Playground
  3. Gus's Fortune / Rumor Mill (After playing with a "Stinky Peterson" fortune telling device, Gus's destiny becomes set...or does it?/)
  4. Recess is Cancelled / Tattletale Heart
  5. The Madness of King Bob / Call Me Guy (/Gus losing his glasses leads to something...cool! Right?)
  6. Prickly Is Leaving / Randall's Friends (Prickly gets an offer to a middle school that he just can't refuse.../)
  7. The Biggest Trouble Ever / The Rules (T.J. and the gang are deemed criminals/King Morty's rules begin being used again after Vince and Lawson have a disagreement regarding a dumpster and a kickball.)
  8. Gus and Misdemeanors / A Science Fair to Remember (/Little Becky Benson idolizes Grethcen...or does she?)
  9. Mikey's Pants / Here Comes Mr. Perfect(Mikey has an issue with his pants.(need I say more?)/ A new kid comes to third street, and isn't as "average" as you'd think he is...)
  10. Good Luck Charm / Diggers Split Up
  11. Schoolworld / Bachelor Gus (/Gus moves into Old Rusty at school after overhearing his parents' unfortunate plans.)
  12. The Dude / Partners in Crime (A school legend, T.J.'s idol comes back as a...teacher?/)
  13. The Candidates / This Brain for Hire
  14. Spinelli's Masterpiece / Nobody Doesn't Like T.J.
  15. Yope from Norway / Bonkey Fever (Gus becomes jealous of a Norwegian transfer student./Mikey has problems turning the big 1-0.)
  16. Don't Ask Me / The Secret Life of Grotke
  17. The Fuss over Finster / Soccer Boy
  18. Fort Tender / Germ Warfare (T.J. and the gang make a fort, only to have Lawson ruin their plans./Gus and Mikey are at war after Gretchen cathces a cold.)
  19. More Like Gretchen / Prince Randall (After a visit to a Musum, Spinelli's parents seem to be a little "unsatisfied" with their daughter./Randall blackmails King Bob into giving him the throne.)
  20. Me No Know / Good Ole T.J. (Vince is left out from seeing a really good movie and feels the brunt of not understanding what is going on throughout the city, more importantly....the school./Good ole T.J. and Gretchen are finally partners for a project...will it work?)
  21. Chez Vince / Tucked In Mikey (Vince becomes one of the greatest chefs in the history of the playground...and possibly even the world./)
  22. Old Folks Home / Some Friend (The gang take a visit to the Old Folks Home, only to be surpised./)

Season 5 - 2000-2001 (ABC)

  1. The Coolest Heatwave Ever / No Strings Attached (The gang try to find the school's back - up valve./)
  2. Beyond a Reasonable Scout / The C Note (/T.J. finds a $100 bill. He wants to give it back.)
  3. The Army-Navy Game / Big Ol' Mikey (Cornchip Girl and Gus share a secret friendship./Someone starts a rumour about Mikey.)
  4. A Great State Fair / The A.V. Kid (Gus gets left behind, along with Gelman and Finster when Gus's dad forgets to give him his permission form to his first great state fair./The A.V. Kid must choose a successor because he's leaving third street. T.J. and Vince would BOTH like the position.)
  5. The Principals of Golf / All the Principal's Men (Vince enters himself into the Golf tourney, and partners up with Prinipal Prickly. (Another one of the episodes where we see Paul Pricky show up to compete against Principal Pricky.)/)
  6. Lawson's Crew

Season 6 - 2001 (ABC)

  1. Terrifying Tales of Recess
  2. Kurst the Not So Bad / League of Randalls
  3. Mundy, Mundy / Lost Leader (/T.J. goes "missing" after a series of failed plans.)
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